Case Report of Very-Low-Dose Fentanyl Causing Fentanyl-Induced Chest Wall Rigidity

Abstract

Wooden chest syndrome (WCS) is a rare phenomenon of opioid-induced skeletal muscle rigidity causing respiratory failure and inability to ventilate. The most common opioid associated with WCS is the synthetic opioid fentanyl. Fentanyl has been called the deadliest drug in America. With the use of fentanyl in critical care units and operation rooms, it is important to better understand fentanyl’s side effects and predisposing factors of WCS. The symptoms of WCS are often seen in lower fentanyl doses than what would cause apnea. In this case report, we present a case of WCS with an extremely low dose of fentanyl, i.e., 50 μcg (0.49 μcg/kg), in an 80-year-old patient with a medical history significant for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS).